Flexible screen.



PATENTED SEPT. '6, 1904.

P. H. WILSON.

FLEXIBLE SCREEN.

APPLICATION FILED DB0. 1s. 190s.

NO MODEL.

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Patented September 6, 1904.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

PEROY HUNT IVILSON, OF NORFOLK, VIRGINIA.

FLEXIBLE SCREEN.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 769,423, datedSeptember 6, 1904,

Application filed December 16, 1903. Serial No. 185,382. (No model.)

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Be it known that I, PERCY HUNT llIiLsoN, a citizen of Great Britain,residing at Norfolk, in the county of Norfolk and State of Virginia,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Flexible Screens,of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to that class of screens, such as are used forrolling shutters and other purposes, where a series of longitudinalstrips are jointed together; and my invention consists in soconstructing the said strips that the edge of one may be iiexiblyconnected with the edge of the next strip, so as to form aself-supporting connected structure-that is, so that the connectionsbetween the strips shall be secured without the use of chains or otherancillary connecting' means, as fully set forth hereinafter and asillustrated in the accompanying drawings, in whichn Figure 1 illustratestwo connectedstrips of a flexible screen, showing the same incrosssection and in perspective. Fig. Q is a longitudinal section at oneend or edge of the structure. Fig. 3 is a detached end view of one ofthe strips. Fig. 4 is a transverse section illustrating another form inwhich the structure may be embodied.

The screen consists of a series of connected parallel strips or membersA, each provided with a cylindrical rib 1 at one edge and with twointurned separated ribs 2 3 at the opposite edge, the inner contour ofthe ribs 2 3 corresponding to the external form of the ribs 1, so thatthe strips may be connected together by introducing' the cylindrical ribof one strip between the inturned ribs of the next strip, as shown inFig. 1. lVhen thus connected, a series of strips or members willconstitute a continuous jointed or flexible structure. Preferably eachstrip is made of thin metal to thereby reduce weight and facilitatemanufacture; but when made of sheet metal there is difliculty insecuring a selfsupporting connected structure from the tendency of theribs 2 3 to yield or spring apart and release the cylindrical rib fromits position. To overcome this difliculty, I strengthen each strip bythe use of a bent strip 4, which may be of any suitable weight requiredto insure the desired rigidity at the socketed edge of the strip. lVherethe strip, as shown in the drawings, is made of metal bent to form ahollow structure and with hollow ribs Qand 3, the strengthening-stri p 4may lit within the hollow ribs, as shown in Fig. 1. In other cases, asshown in Fig. 4, a hollow strip 4 of heavy material may be bent toreceive the rib 1 and may be soldered or otherwise secured to theinturned sides 5 6 of the main strip. In either case thestrengthening-strip 4 imparts such stiffness to the inturned ribs aswill prevent them from springing apart and causing the separation of thediii'erent elements of the structure. In some cases it is desirable tohave the faces of the strips at one side as nearly in line with eachother as possible, and this may be secured by setting the ribs 1 nearerto one edge of the strip than to the other, as shown in Fig. 1.Additional rigidity may be imparted to the strips by providing each witha suitable tiller. For some purposes, where a lireproof screen is notrequired, the filler may be made of wood or pulp; but where a tireproofscreeneas, for instance, a rolling shutteris desired a iireproofcomposition, such as lignolith or any other iireproof material, may beused as a filler. In [ireproof structures greater security maybeobtained by protecting the narrow neck T, joining the rib 1 to the bodyof the strip, by extending' one of the inturned ribs-mas, for instance,the rib 2-`i'arther down or beyond the other, thus covering the saidneck. The strips are capped at the ends by means of caps 8, properlysecured, and the rib of each strip may be cut away, forming a notch 9,as shown in Fig. 3, to receive the cap of the connected strip to therebyprevent the strips from sliding longitudinally independent of eachother, or any other suitable means may be employed for this purpose.

l-Vithout limiting myself to the precise construction and arrangementshown, I claim- 1. The combination in a flexible screen, of strips eachhollow and provided with a filler and with a rib 1 at one edge andparallel inturned ribs at the other edge adapted to engage the rib 1 ofthe next strip and constituting the sole means of connecting the two,substantially as set forth.

2. The combination in a flexible screen, of

strips each hollow and provided with a fillerv and with a rib l at oneedge and parallel inturned ribs at the other edge adapted to engage therib l of the next strip and constituting the sole means of connectingthe two, and caps closing the ends of the hollow strips, substantiallyas set forth.

3. The combination in a iiexible screen, of strips each hollow andprovided with a lireproof filler and with a rib l at one edge andparallel inturned ribs at the other edge adapted to engage the rib l ofthe next strip and constituting' the sole means of connecting the two,substantially as set forth.

4. The combination in a flexible screen, of strips each with acylindrical rib at one edge and with separated hollow inturned ribs atthe opposite edge adapted to engage the cylindrical rib of the nextstrip, and a bent strip litting said hollow ribs, substantially as setforth.

5. A metallic screen consisting of strips jointed together to form acontinuons flexible self-supporting and connecting structure, each stripwith a cylindrical rib at one edge and with inturned ribs at theopposite edge engaging the cylindrical rib of the adjacent strip, oneinturned rib extending below the edge of the other, substantially as andfor the purposes set forth.

6. A metallic screen consisting of hollow strips containing lireprooffilling jointed together to form a continuous flexible self-supportingand connecting' structure, each strip with a cylindrical rib at one edgeand with inturned ribs at the opposite edge engaging the cylindrical ribof the adjacent strip, substantially as set forth.

7 A metallic screen consisting of strips jointed together to form acontinuous exible self-supporting and connecting structure, each stripwith a cylindrical rib at one edge and near one side, and with intnrnedribs at the opposite edge engaging the cylindrical rib of the adjacentstrip, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof l have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses.

PEECY HUNT wiLsoN.

Witnesses:

CHARLES E. FOSTER, FRED. P. HINKEL.

